Machine for twisting doughy substances



April 23, 1935. H, E, SMITH 1,998,560`

MACHINE FOR TwIsTING DouGHY sUBsTANcEs Filed April 17, i933 2 sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Sw m N EL* April 23, 1935;

H. E. SMITH l MACHINE FOR TWISTING DOUGHY SUBSTANCES Filed April 17, 1953l 2 sheets-shee'z INVENTOR ATTORNEY l Patente-cl Apr. 23, 1935 PATENT OFFICE MAoniNE Fon frwrs'rING DoUGHY sUBsTANoEs Harold E. Smith, Dallas, Tex.

Y Application April 17,r 1933, Serial No. 666,406'

14 Claims.

This invention relates to dough twisting machines `and it has particular reference to a machine for imparting a series oi twists to strips oi dough preparatory to baking.

The principal object of the invention is to provide wholly automatic .means operating in conjunction with the conventional molding apparatus for receiving vstrips lof dough1 `twisting the same together and depositing the twisted strips into pans preparatory to their introduction into an oven for baking.

Another object of the invention is to provide suitable means for receiving and transferring `the twisted strips of dough yfrom the twisting devices to the pans, combined with v means for causing the various elements of the machinerie operate in timed'relation, in yorder that there will be no wnstage oi dough and so that there will be no .failure onthe part or lany oi .the elements to function properly in transferring the dough from 4the melder to the pans. Y l

Broadly, the invention comprehends the provision of a machine for improving the o [uality of bread by twisting so as to vstrengthen the gluten which ope-ration is efrective in vtightening the air cells and squeezing out the air pockets thus improving the flavor ci the bread With the foregoing objects Ias paramounhthe inven-tionhas particular reference yto its salient features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will become manifesty as the description proceeds, taken in `connection with the accompanying drawings, whereint Figure l is a plan view-of .a machine construct.- ed according to Vthe present invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation. f Figur-e 3 is a transverse :section on lines v3 .on Figure .1. Y

Figure 4 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing the panning device.

Figure `5 is Vva detail View in perspective showing vone oi the dough twisting units.

Fig-ure -6 is a 4detail view partly broken away, vshowing one of the end forming members.

Figure 7 -is fa detail View showing a section of chain and the arm and ratchet .mechanism for operating the pan conveyor in timed` relation with `the movement vof the dough 'twisting units.

Figure 8 is a modied form of guide for the twisting uni-ts, and Y Figure 9 is a rdiametrical section on lines 1ST- e9 on Figure 8.

The elements of the .inventionare so yConstr-uctr-- ed and. arranged that the doughwill :be initially received in strips or rolls of equal length and deposited in Vparallel relationship in a transversely :and longitudinally `divided receptacle which will loe hereinafter referred to as the twisting -*Several of these units are provided and are spaced apart and operated by endless chains.

' strips. The 4dough isY then ready to he introduced into aloaking oven. g

Accordingly, the main frame of the machine is composed of channel lmembers I, two of which is 4requireclfor either side of the machine as shown `in Figure'; iOperating within the Vchannels of these members are rollers 2 having rounded pe-V ripheries toconiorm with the shape of the channels or.x rooves. A dein-il .of therollers may be seen V,Figures 5, 8 and 9. These rollers are momfited upon `,shafts 3..

In Figures 8 and 9, the peculiar construction of these roliers shown. `inner ball race yll is -stationarywhite the-outer race 5 is vfree to rotate.V The inner :race 4 is pivoted, as shown in Figure 9 diametrically tothe inner periphery of the outer raceat i. This particular construction permits the outer race of the roller 2 to adjust litself to the channels in which it operates without causing displacement of the shaft 3. .lt will be 'understood that the shafts must not :be displaced from their parallel neiationship, although the rollers must follow the angle Iof the channels as shown in Figure il, in which it will be noted that one end of the lframe is expanded which causes the twisting units to withdraw :from the dough zandleave the same in a position to be ydeposited in suitable pa-oste be. refer-red to later.

Since the inner race il of the rollers 2 is not rotatable, this serves yas a connection for the :sprocket chain l .of the machine proper. Four of these chains vare required. two on either side of the mach-ine Aand the rollers 2 serve in lieu of links at spaced .intervals in the chain l, :as apparent in 4Figure 'land function to guide the chains, It will henoted .that the sprockets 8 at either end ci themachine proper and over which .the 'chains 'I pass are especially constructed with recesses 8, see figure 7, to accommodatethe roll- .ers l2.. ,As apparentin Figure 3 the inner Achannel on each :side of :the machine is Vprovided with a slot M in for-der that the rvsprockets 8 may en- ;gage the chain J..

Connected to the inner end of Y.each of the .shafts 3 ,is a receptacle generally referred to by the character .l land so'identifed in Figures 1, 2 and .f3 and provided with elongated recesses l2, as :shown in Figure 5. In hgure, it willbe noted that the units II are in sections, the portion I3 being hinged or pivoted at I4 and whose recesses I2 are in conformity with those of the rigid portion, in order that a transverse section through the units will disclose two circular cavities. The end of one of these units alines with the companion unit on the opposite side of the machine as apparent in Figure 1 and when two pieces of dough are placed in the units in parallel relationship, the meeting point of the two units is substantially midway between the ends of the pieces of dough. As the pairs of units advance in this relationship, clockwise rotation is imparted to one of the units by the engagement of the1 gear I5 with the gear rack IB on one side of the machine and so disposed that the gears will engage the same below the shafts 3. A similar gear rack, bearing the same reference character I6 is disposed on the opposite side of vthe machine but is arranged above the shafts 3 in order that counter-clockwise rotation of the units will result. The twisting units being thus rotated in opposite directions will impart a twist to the piece of dough lying in the recesses I2.

As the twisting units are advanced by the upper leads of the chains "I, thesections of units are closed to wholly encase the strips of dough iI after they pass the approximate center of the machine, the diverging sides of the machine frame will cause the units to move apart yet Without diverging from the parallel spacing thereof. 'I'his is maintained by means of the rollers '2 operating in the channels I and held in spaced relationship by the chains 1. i

Upon reaching the extreme forward end of the machine, the channelsv turn abruptly downward and return, at which timethe hinged sections of the twisting units II fall downwardly by gravity to the position shown in Figure 3 and continue thus along the lower lead offthe chain I to the opposite end of the machine wherethe channels I turn abruptly upward, the chains'I operating over the sprockets 8 as explained previously.

Dough in rolls or strips of predetermined length is deposited in the receptacles I2 of the units II While the hinged portion I3 thereof is standing upright as in Figure 5. The dough is formed into the required shape in a conventional manner by a suitable moulder,not shown, and deposited into the units II through the chutes I8. It will be understood of course, that since this is not a part of the present invention, the chutes I8 are broken away in Figures 1 and 2.

As the twisting'units I I continue in their movement, the deflecting projections or fingers I 9, as shown in Figures 1 and 3 are engaged by the upwardly extending, hinged members I3 of the twisting units I l, which are thus caused to move to closed position to wholly encase thestrips of dough deposited therein as,V described.

When the twisting units have advanced the full length of the machine in the twisting operation, they return for refilling as above explained without restriction but as they move upwardly to the filling point, a suitable guide must be provided to hold the units against rotation until they reach the point of divergence of the side channels I. This is accomplished by means of a rail 20, afxed to the inner channel member I. Cooperating with this rail is a disc ZI carried upon the extreme outer end of each of the shafts 3 and to which is pivoted rollers 22. A detail of the disc and rollers is shown in Figure 5. As the twisting units advance on Vthe lower lead of the chain I toward the lling point, the rollers 22 ride upon the rail 20, the latter being provided with deflected ends as shown in Figure 2. As long as the rollers 22 engage the rail 20, the twisting units I I cannot rotate except to the limited degree permitted by the contour of the rail, it being pointed out that the rail extends around one end of the machine in conformity with the channel side members I and the peculiar shape of the rail 2B permits the twisting units to revolve to the iilling position, in which position the hinged portions i3 are upright to receive the dough, preparatory to being closed by engagement with the stationary projections I9, previously mentioned.

Immediately below the upper leads of the chains 1, there is provided an endless belt 23, carrying spaced trays 24, which are semi-circular in transverse cross-section. The endless belt 23 operates over roller 25, shown in Figures 2 and 3 as being spaced from the lling end of the machine and the roller 26, shown in Figure 4 as being mounted in the frame of the end forming mechanism. The end forming mechanism will be described in detail presently but it will be under# stood that after the dough has been subjected to a twisting operation, it is conveyed by means of the spaced trays 24, carried by belt 23 into the end forming mechanism so that uniformity of length of the loaves will be assured as well as to cent-er the dough preparato-ry to its introduction into the baking pans, which operation will be explained t later,

Movement of the twisting units II must be in timed relation to the movement of the belt 23, which carries the trays 24, since it is necessary that each twisting. unit must be received in a tray I 24, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Thus, immediately before one of the twisting units passe above the axis of the belt roller 25, one of the trays 24 afiixed to the belt 23 is elevated to a position to embrace the twisting unit and the elements I I land 24 remain in this relationship until the former have 'completed the twisting operation and withdrawn by virtue of the diverged channels, but the trays 24 carry the twisted dough past the returning point of the twisting units I I, into the end forming mechanism.

The end forming mechanism is shown in perspective inFigure 4 and is comprised of side plates 26, each having a central plate 2'I, whose outer edge is spaced slightly from the inner edge of the plates 2B to define a slot 28. Grooved rollers 29 operate within the slot 28 in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 4. The grooved rollers 29 are mounted on shaft 30, upon the free ends of each of which is mounted a small disc 3l.

As apparent in Figure 1, the side plates 25 of the end forming mechanism diverge in an opposite direction to the diverging side frames of the twisting mechanism. This is provided in order that the shafts 30 of the end forming mechanism will be moved longitudinally inward to enter the open ends of the trays 24 successively as they are advanced by the belt 23 between the side frames 26 of the end forming mechanism, This is borne out in Figiue 4. When the discs 3 I, carried by the shaft 30 come into engagement with the ends of the dough I1 in the trays 24, the dough is centralized in the trays so that when it is deposited into pans 32, carried by another endless belt 33, it will be uniform in length and being centralized, it will not catch upon the sides of the pans 32.

The chains 1 are rotated to impart movement to the twisting units I I from the main drive shaft 34, better shown in Figure 3 and by a suitable motor, not shown, having operative connection with the sprocket'35. Movement is transmitted to the endless belt 23, which'carries the trays by the twisting units ll, the latterbeing timed to be successively received in the trays 24 as-exe plained previously andsince the chains 1are power driven, their relationship -withthe trays is such that the belt 23,to which the trays are secured will be moved accordingly and at the same speed. The belt 23 thus receives its power of'o'p-` eration. As the twisting units II withdraw and release the trays after the twisting operation, as shown in Figure l, successive units -II vwill continue in engagement with the trays to continue moving the belt 23. f' 'I yThe-belt 23 being so moved, the lugs '36 carried by the trays 24 will come into successive 'engagement with the lugs or proections 38 carried'by the endless chains 31 of the end forming mechanism shown inFigure A4, Movement is thus imparted to lthe chains 31 andtransmitted to the shafts A3l), which `carry the end forming devices 3l and due to the diverging side plates 2li of the end yforming mechanism, the shafts-33 :nove inA wardly and outwardly, into and out of engagement respectively with the dough'y I1 in trays'24, after which the dough is deposited V into the 'pans carried by the endless belt 33 immediately be#- iow the belt 23. The shape of the ings or projections 38, Figure 6 is such that the projections 36,Y carried by the trays 24 vwill ride ofi the faces of the lugs when the respective lugs'have made a complete cyclearound the slot 28"'of the end forming mechanism shown in Figure 4. v

It is also necessary that the belt 33 be actuated in timed relation tothe twisting units and the receiving trays 24 in order that the pans 32 will be moved into register with the pointA of` discharge of the end forming mechanism. This is done through the medium ofthe mechanism shown in Figure 7 vand which is comprised of a ratchet wheel 33. An arm '43 is mounted on the same shaft 4i fas the ratchet wheel tlvand extends upwardly so that lits upperjendlwill liejin the path of the shaftsk 3, carrying thetwisting units Il and as these'shafts'are advancedthe rollers 42 carried thereby will engagej the upwardly extending end of the arm 43 and displace the Ysame against the resistance ofthe spring 43,` to the position Vshown in dotted lines in Figure "7. A pawl 44 pivoted to the arm '49 engages the ratchet wheel 39, rotating the same a predetermined degree and since the ratchet wheel 33 is in xed relation to the roller 45, over which the beltl 33 passes, the roller 45, shown ronly Figure 3'will be also rotated a predetermined extent, thus advancing the belt 33 a sufficient ydistance under' the belt A23 to move the pans 32 into register with the trays 24 to receive thejdough I1 therefrom after it has been twisted and centered. n

In order to bring 'about adjustment in length of the loaves, it is required that the `side frames 26 and 21 of the end forming mechanism beadjusted relative to the kedges oi?V the endless'belt 23, as shown in Figure 4, `so as to vary the 'distance to which the end forming members ordiscs 3 I, carried by the shafts 30, enter the ends "ofthe trays 24. This adjustment is obtained'through the medium 'of threaded rods 46 which pass through the upper and lower ends of standards 41. By moving the rods 46 relative to ther standards 41, it is obvious that the side plates may be moved toward and awa-y from the belt 23 or the angle at which the side plates are disposed may be changed. For example, when the side plates are moved nearer the edges of the belt 23, the

end forming devices 3l carried by vthe shafts 39 will enterfthe ends of the trays 24 to a greater depth than would be the case should the side plates be moved away from the edges of the belt 23. The length of the twisted rolls oi dough will thus be determined which will of course, determine the length of the loaf of bread after it has been baked in the pans 32.

In operation, the dough is prepared primarily in asuitable mulder, not shown, in strips of predetermined length and deposited in chutes I3, one strip being deposited in one chute and another in the companion chute in order that the separate strips may be deposited inthe parallel cavities or receptacles I2 of the twisting units I l shown in detail in Figure 5. It will be understood that the chains 1 which carry the twisting'units II move slowly and without restriction and the operation of filling the units II is necessarily Y momentary and is timed in accordance with the passage of the units under the discharge ends of the chutes I8. As the twisting units continue to advance, the hinged portions -I3 thereof; being in raised position are closed, when theyV come into contact with the projections I9 at the ex'- treme left of Figure l. The twistingv operation does not begin until the gears I5 carried by the shaft 3 come into engagement withthe rack bar I6 inthe angular portions of the machine frame. In fact, the twisting units are held against rotation by the rail 2li againstwhich the rollers 22 engage. it will be remembered that the specific purpose of this rail is to bring the twisting units into position 'for lling andy to prevent rotation thereof during the filling operation.

Therackbars I6 being so related that 'clockwise rotation will be imparted to one of the units II rand counter-clockwise rotation to the'companion unit, the parallel strips of dough carried jointly by the two units willbe twisted together as the ,two units withdraw on-e from the other by reasonef the :diverging relationship of the side frames or channels I, shown in Figure l. It is apparent that the number of twists may be predetermined by increasing or' decreasing the length of the rack bars I6. v

the twisting units advance, they are successively received by the trays24 carried by the belt 23 immediately under the operative plane of the twisting units. The twisting units being driven byra power source, namely, the drive shaft 34, the engagement Aofthese units with the trays 24 will impart movement to the belt 23 and as one pair ofunits withdraws 'from a tray 24, another pair is entering another tray, hence con# tinuous movement of the belt 23 is secured as .explained in the foregoing. i

Accordingly, when the twisting units have completed their function and return along the lower leads of thechains 1, the twisted strips 'oiV dough I1 continue into the end forming mechanism 'shown in Figure 4 and as theprojections V33 carried by the ends of the trays 24, in which the doughreposes, come into engagement with the lugs 38 on the chains 31 'of 'the end forming mechanism, the chains v31 are rotated, thus advancing the shafts 30 carrying the end forming devices 3l. The angle at 'which the side-frames 26 and 21 are disposed causes the A'shafts 3U to move longitudinally inward and 'since they are in register with the open xends of the trays 24 and timed to move in unison therewith, the tend forming device 3-I carried thereby areprojected into the ends of the trays 24 and against the ends of the dough reposing in the trays. The opposed devices 3l move into the trays simultaneously and at the lsame distance, thus centering the dough in the trays. Beingv thus centered, and since the belt 23 is continually moved, the dough is deposited into the pans 32, carried by the belt 33 immediately below the belt 23. The belt 33, instead of moving at a uniform rate of speed is advanced intermittently by means of the arm and ratchet mechanism shown in Figure 7 so as to bring successive pans under the point of discharge of the dough from the trays 24. The pans 32 are joined together in groups of four by means of strips 48 aftlxed to the sides of the pans, as shown in Figure 4 particularly.

The invention has been described as being specically applicable for twisting strips of dough for the production of twisted loaves of bread but it will be understood that its use is not limited to this speciiic application since itis apparent that it might also be employed for twisting confections in the manufacture of candy and for other similar uses. Moreover, the invention is not limited to the specific construction and arrangement of parts and it will be understood that certain changes and alterations may be made from time to time without departing from the spirit or intent thereof as described in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A machine for twisting doughy substance including oppositely rotatable receptacles jointly enclosing and retaining said substance and means for withdrawing said receptacles from said substance subsequent to the twisting operation.

2. A machine for imparting a twist to doughy substance including means for receiving said substance in which the substance is initially wholly enclosed means for rotating said receiving means to twist said substance and means gradually withdrawing said receiving means for releasing said substance subsequent to the twisting operation.

-3. A machine for twisting doughy substance including paired means for receiving and jointly retaining strips of doughy substance, means for imparting rotary motion to said paired means in opposite directions simultaneously to twist said strips together, Vmechanical means for moving the elements of said paired means apart to release said strips and means for depositing the twisted strips into pans. Y Y

4. A machine for producing artwist in doughy substance including a sectional receiving means for said substance whereb'y said substance is initially wholly enclosed, means vfor rotating the sections of said receiving means independently, means for maintaining alined relationship of said sections and means for gradually moving said sections apart to release said substance.

5. A machine for twisting strips of doughy substances together including independent receptacles in aligned relationship for jointly receiving strips of doughy substance in parallel relationship, means for imparting opposite rotation to said receptacles to twist said strips, means for effecting longitudinal withdrawal of said receptacles simultaneously with rotation thereof to releasev said substance and means for depositing said substance in pans.

6. A machine for subjecting strips of doughy substance to a twisting action including means for loosely holding the ends of said strips and rotating the same in opposite `directions and gradually releasing the same during rotation.

7. A machine for subjecting 'strips of doughy substance to a twisting action including means for loosely holding the ends of said strips and rotating the same in opposite directions and gradually releasing the same during rotation and means for retaining said strips during and after subjection to the action of said rotating means.

8. A machine for subjecting strips of doughy substance to a twisting action including means for loosely holding the ends of said strips and rotating the same in opposite directions and gradually releasing the same during rotation, means for retaining said strips during and after subjection to the action of said rotating means and means arranged to enter the ends of said retaining means to engage and center said strips in said retaining means preparatory to depositing the same in pans.

9. A machine for twisting doughy substances including a receptacle in sections to receive and wholly enclose the substance initially, means for rotating vthe sectionsrof said receptacle in opposite directions to twist said substance and means for gradually drawing said sections apart during the twisting operation to release said substance.

10. A machine for twisting doughy substances including a receptacle comprised of oppositely rotating sections and arranged to receive said substance and wholly enclose the same during the initial movement thereof and means to effect gradual withdrawal of said sections during rotation thereof to release the `substance therefrom.

11. A machine for twisting doughy substances including collapsible receptacles in sections which are capable of independent rotation and arranged to receive said substance, means to cause said sections to move apart to release said substance, means in which said receptacles initially operate to receive said substance from said receptacles when the sections thereof are moved apart.

12. A machine for imparting a twist to strips of doughy substance including endless rows of relatively parallel receptacles, each being comprised of independently rotatable and longitudinally movable sections for retaining said substance, endless rows of relatively parallel trays moving in conformity with said receptacles and in which the latter are operative to release said substance during the twisting operation and means for centering said substance in said trays preparatory to panning.

13. A dough twisting machine including endless rows of relatively'parallel receptacles, each comprising independently rotatable and longitudinally alined sections for receiving strips of said dough, a plurality of trays on which said receptacles deposit said dough subsequent to the twisting operation, a plurality of pans and means for advancing said pans in corresponding relation to said trays whereby to receive said dough upon discharge thereof by said trays.

14. A dough twisting machine including means for wholly enclosing and imparting to said dough a twisting action, means for gradually advancing and withdrawing said means from said dough during the twisting operation, means for receiving and retaining said dough during and subsequent to said twisting operation and means moving in unison with said latter means for finally receiving said dough from said latter means and conveying the same to a point of disposal.

HAROLD E. SMITH. 

